Back home, I walked out of the lift and subconsciously glanced at Aunt Margaret’s house. The door was locked, and not seeing her was the best thing that could happen for me.

I knocked on my apartment door, and soon enough, an ugly baboon opened the door. She was Emi. Her hair was messed up. Her eyes were puffy. Seeing my dazed expression at the gate, she said nothing and walked back.

I would have liked to comment on her looks, but I didn’t. As I went inside, I placed the pastries on the table. Emi was also sitting on her chair, with a sleep-deprived face. She quickly opened the bag and took the pastry, enjoying it without a word.

I also sat down on my chair a little to the right of her and took a bite of the pastry. The house was filled with silence, the only sound that I was able to hear was Emi’s chewing sound. Mom had gone to her part-time job, leaving both of us at home.

I glanced at Emi; her lips were covered with pastry crumbs and chocolate. Indeed, without her, the silence was just too absolute, and the only way I knew to break it was money. If I had enough money, then there wouldn’t be this much silence in the house.

Though I prefer locking myself in the room. I hate silence.

"What are you staring at?" Emi’s voice came into my ears, followed by a kick on my feet.

I didn’t turn away, knowing well that backing off only means embarrassing myself.

"Nothing, want it." I offered her my half-eaten pastry, not completely out of compassion, or I wouldn’t have taken a bite knowing how much she likes these pastries. It’s just this way: she gets her pastry, and I get my system rewards, win-win for both.

"..." She gave me a long enough look before taking the pastry. Just as she took the bite of it. The system was triggered.

[Congratulations, Host, on sharing your snack with your stepsister. Rewards are being calculated.]

[Reward: +5 physique]

[Perverted Point: +100]

[Forbidden Point: +1]

[The Host Physique is maxed out; the extra points couldn’t be assigned.]

When I saw this maxing out prompt, I was really eager to see if there were any changes in my information panel. Usually, when your stats are maxed out in the novels, you get something like a new bloodline and better genes so you can grow further.

But sadly, when I opened my status panel, there was no evolution option for me.

Host: Ricky Watson

Species: Human

Talent: Hellfire (lv1), Eyes of Void (lv1), Summon (lv1)

Physique: 10/10

Mana: 300/300

Pervert Points: 310

Forbidden Points: 3

"Hey..." She gave me another kick, letting me realise that I was still on the dining table with her.

"Have your feet in check," I stood up and gave her a head smack.

Ring~ Ring~

When I was about to get out of here, my phone rang, and when I looked at the dial screen showed it was from mom. I quickly picked up the call, and what I heard from the other side was a little worried voice of hers.

"Ricky..."

"Hm, what happened, Mom?"

"Your grandfather had gotten ill a few days ago, and it’s been hard for your grandmother to take care of him alone. If you could..." She didn’t complete her words, and her silence actually hurt. Since the divorce from my father, she had stopped asking anything from anyone. She couldn’t even tell me to take care of my grandparents if I don’t want to. As an unemployed son, her silence was even more devastating.

"Don’t worry, Mom, the summer vacation is still going on, I will go to their place and look after them," I spoke, replying to her silence. Even if I’m not interested in my grandparents, she does. For her sake, I will look after them.

"Thanks..." her voice came from the other end, and I felt really exhausted and sad at the same time. She had become way too gloomy.

After the call ended, I took a deep breath and turned around. Sure enough, Emi was standing right behind me. Her ears perked up; she had been listening to all the conversation.

"Stop eavesdropping on my calls, go get some sleep."

I simply walked away, planning to pack up my bag. If she had called me, then the situation of the grandparents wasn’t really well, so I would be taking the earliest train to Wong Zhi Mountain. Their village was located a bit high in the mountains, making it hard for villagers to get even basic necessities for survival, a lot harder with uncertainty in the weather, making it even worse.

While I was stuffing my clothes into the bag, I saw Emi peeking into my room, but when I looked straight at her, she instantly turned around and left.

I didn’t dwell on her much, packing my stuff and getting ready for the trip. After I was done with preparations, I checked the train timings and found the earliest train going to the Wong Zhi mountain would be departing in one hour from now. That wasn’t much time, but it only takes me 40 to 50 minutes to reach the station from here. So, it was enough for me to board this train.

After rechecking everything, I was ready for departure, but before that, I called mom once again, saying that I would be leaving now. When she heard this, her voice got a bit better. I could tell from the change in her voice how relieved she was.

As I stepped out of my room with my backpack. I saw Emi standing right there at the gate, carrying her bag. She was dressed in a cartoon t-shirt and a white skirt. Her eyes were still puffy but hidden under the little layer of makeup.

"Why are you frozen there? We are getting late." She said, as she opened the door, to step out first.